Page 254 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Malum breathed raggedly like a maniac.

This was exactly why all fae men would be jailed at birth and not released until they proved themselves peaceful. Thank the sun god I was queen and not some male whack job.

“Why are you wearing that! Take it off now!” Malum shouted, and I stared back at him blankly.

Was he having a breakdown? I hated to say it, but that would be the most relatable thing he’d done to date.

“Maybe try lying on the floor to ground yourself. It can help panic attacks,” I pointed out helpfully and crossed my arms over my chest to demonstrate. “Deep breaths.”

Malum snarled and gnashed his teeth like a rabid animal.

I spoke slowly. “No, you have to suck in through your nose.” I pointed to my nostril and sucked in. “Then try to release it through your mouth.” I nodded at him as I blew out.

There was a sizzling sound as his shirt caught on fire.

I narrowed my eyes. “I feel like you’re not trying.”

Malum trembled with rage. Poor guy was giving it his best shot, but he just couldn’t get the hang of it.

Orion whispered in Scorpius’s ear, then moved across the room and laid one hand on his flaming mate’s shoulder while he pointed his other hand at me. “Your neck.”

I looked down.

Gasped.

A black teardrop jewel about the size of my palm hung from a glittering diamond chain around my neck. The jewels were ice-cold and ridiculously heavy.

My eyes snapped to John, the man who’d knelt atop me seconds before.

He stared back.

Then arched a dark brow and smirked like he was offering a challenge.

I arched my brow back at him and asked in a snooty tone, “You couldn’t have gotten anything bigger?”

Malum choked.

Orion’s jaw dropped.

John’s dark eyes twinkled as he matched my energy and asked, “Have you earned a bigger diamond?”

I gracefully crawled out of bed, shoulders back, neck straight, and stopped in front of him. My aching knees begged to give out, but I locked them tight and flexed my thighs.

Like a queen I arched my brow at him. “Please, we both know what I deserve. Now, care to explain the rock hanging from my neck?”

John shrugged casually. “It’s nothing serious. I’ve always owned it, but I never had a woman to give it to. Figured I might as well give it to my bestie.”

I narrowed my eyes and stared up at him as I searched for the lie.

“You just happened to have this hanging around?” I asked skeptically as I fingered the cold weight.

It was heavy.

I’d grown up with coffers of expensive jewels, and I’d never seen a single stone so large. Especially not one that was such a unique shade of black.

“Yep.” John flashed his dimples. “It’s really not a big deal.” The smile slipped from his face, and his eyes looked sad. “Think of it as an apology for deceiving you.”

John glanced around the room uncomfortably as the devils and demons stared at him with distrust.

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